Evenflo SureRide/Titan 65 Review

The Evenflo SureRide/Titan 65 is quickly making a name for itself in the car seat world. With some of the tallest harness slots of any convertible seat, and the ability to be used from birth, it’ll be one of the only convertibles that will expire before kids outgrow it! Did I mention is retails for $100 or less as well?!

Installation

Rear Facing Installation

The SureRide can be used rear facing from 5-40 pounds and 19-40 inches. This is adequate to keep most kids rear facing to 3-4 years old. The harness has two loops on the end to help fit a wider range of children. The smaller setting helps shorten the harness to ensure it can be tight enough on a smaller occupant; the longer loop is used to lengthen the harness for an older child. In the US, the bottom four harness slots may be used when rear facing. In Canada, only the bottom three may be used. This isn’t generally a concern as most kids will more than likely hit that 40 inch mark before being able to use the 4th slot rear facing. The seat is outgrown rear facing at 40 lbs., 40 inches, or when the child has less than an inch of seat above their head. The harness straps are narrow-set and do not come with strap covers (though you may be able to add harness covers if you contact Evenflo). My children have no complaints about the harness, however.

Evenflo SureRide/Titan65 LATCH/Tether storage hook

For rear facing, there is a foot that must be pulled out of storage from under the seat to recline the seat. The SureRide can be installed with seat belt or lower anchors. Depending on the version of seat, it could come with standard hook on lower anchor connectors or the updated SureSafe push on connectors (discussed below). Either installation method was easy to use. Thread the seat belt through the rear facing belt path and tighten until there is less than one inch movement side to side at the belt path. Lower anchors may be used for the full 40 lbs rear facing limit. When lower anchor connectors and/or tether is not in use, there are storage hooks on each side of the seat near the top.

Evenflo SureRide/Titan65 recline line, highlighted in red

The SureRide is a tall seat. Since it has a single recline line that must be followed for all ages, it may not be able to achieve proper recline in smaller vehicles. This line, highlighted in our photo in red, must be parallel with the ground at all times when rear facing. Depending on your vehicle, the recline foot may be enough to achieve proper recline. Otherwise a noodle can be used or I used the noodleless installation method.

Forward Facing Installation

Evenflo SureRide

The forward facing limits of the SureRide are 22-65 lbs. and 29-54 inches. The top harness slots are a very generous 19″, making it one of the tallest convertible seats on the market, indeed it is taller than many combination seats! The top three harness positions may be used when forward facing. The seat is outgrown when the weight limit is met, the shoulders go over the highest harness slot, or the top of the child’s ears go over the back of the seat.

When installing forward facing the recline foot is folded back under the seat into the storage position. Forward facing the seat can be installed with either the seat belt and top tether or LATCH. Lower anchors may be used until the child weighs 55 lbs (please review your manual as older seats may differ); from 55 to 65 lbs, you will use the seat belt and top tether to install. The tether is essential to the safety of any forward facing installation, as it greatly reduces the risk of serious injury in a crash.

Fit to Child Rear Facing

Evenflo SureRide- Fiona, 7 lbs., 17 inches

Newborn

This is Fiona, the CSFTL Huggable Images newborn. She is 7 lbs and 17 inches and fits well in the SureRide. She is using the lowest harness position, smallest harness loop, closest crotch buckle position, and infant insert. The harness passes the pinch test and fits her well.

Evenflo Titan65- Anders, 7 months, 19 lbs., 26 inches

Infant

This is Anders , he is 7 months, 19 lbs, and 26 inches. He is still at the first harness slot, but was just a tiny bit below the 2nd slot. He had a lot of room side to side and would probably also fit well with the insert as well.

Evenflo Titan65- Freya, 2.5 years, 24 lbs., 32.5 inches

Older Toddler 1

This is Freya, she is 2.5 years old, 24 lbs., and 32 inches. This is a bigger seat and she’s so narrow that her little body scoots around side to side. She is using the third harness position, smallest harness loop, crotch buckle in the closest position, but the insert has been removed. The insert would probably help with her bottom, but her shoulders are so narrow that she might have leeway to wiggle them out of the harness. The large gap between slots also makes it so that her shoulders are quite a bit above the proper slot, but way below the next one.

Evenflo SureRide- Unity, 2.5 years, 28 lbs., 34 inches

Older Toddler 2

This is Unity, she’s 2.5 years old, 28 lbs., and 34.5 inches tall. She is using the same settings that Freya is using above. You can see how much room she has left in this seat. She’s not as narrow as Freya so doesn’t wiggle side to side so much. The next harness slot is still well above her shoulders. She will outgrow this seat by height before weight since she is lighter for her age.

Evenflo SureRide- 4.5 years, 44 lbs, 43 inches (she is too big to rear face in this seat but a great model to show us how realistic the rear facing limits are)

Preschooler

This is Olivia. At 4.5 years old, 43 inches and 44 lbs., she is over the rear facing weight and height limit of the seat, so she is in it for illustration purposes only. You can see how much room she still has above her head–so most children should not have any problems getting to 40″ in this seat comfortably with room to spare.

Fit to Child Forward Facing

Evenflo Titan65- Laura, 3 years, 29 lbs., and 37.5 inches

Toddler

This is Laura, though she always rides rear facing at just turned 3, she was willing to model the seat forward facing to give us an idea of how it would look for a child her size. At 29 lbs and 37.5 inches, Laura is using the 4th harness position, longest harness loops, and the closest crotch buckle position. You can see how much room she has left, as the top harness slot is near the top of her head.

Evenflo SureRide- 7 and almost 9 years using the top harness slots

Big Kids

Here are Ilana and Evan trying it out (Evan was not happy about a pink seat). Ilana is 7, 63 lbs., and 47.5 inches. Evan will be 9 in a month, 60 lbs., and 49 inches. Both are using the very top slot with a little room left. The harness has little room to go any bigger though so they have pretty much maxed this seat out. These two normally ride in high back boosters, but it’s nice to know there are affordable seats out there for bigger, harnessed children.

Important Information: Where to Find

FAA Approval At 11 lbs. the SureRide is a nice, lightweight option for travel. It is FAA approved and has a sticker on the left side of the seat at the bottom that can be shown to flight attendants if needed. It is also in the manual, as well as instructions on how to install the seat on an airplane.

Evenflo SureRide FAA approval sticker

Expiration The sticker with the date of manufacture, model number, and expiration are found on inside ‘lip’ of the back of the seat. If the seat is turned over, it can usually be fairly easily seen on the supports of the seat.

Evenflo SureRide/Titan65 has a 6 year expiration

Pros

Inexpensive

Fits average size newborns

Fits average size 7 year olds

Fairly easy to install

Fairly narrow side to side

Cons

Space between harness slots may be awkward for some smaller rear facing toddlers

Harness may not fit some kids at the upper end of the seat’s weight limit

Updates

Evenflo SureRide in a three across with the Harmony Folding Booster and an Evenflo Big Kid

We’ve had the SureRide now for over a year; it’s been a great seat and gotten much use, mostly by the two youngest. We just realized how great it was for three across though. I have five kids, all in seats of some kind, so it’s a tight squeeze in the back row. With the shape of the SureRide though, it makes it easier for the 7 and 9 year olds to get their boosters buckled compared to other seats I’ve used in that spot. Olivia is 5.5, 49 lbs., and 45.5 inches and using the top harness slots and has been working hard on getting ready to switch to a booster. She’s big for her age but could easily have another year left in this seat. You can read more about my adventures in three across in my other post.

Evenflo has released a new set of features called SureSafe Installation on the Titan 65 exclusive to Wal-Mart stores and Walmart.com. These features include new quick release lower anchor connectors. The connector can now be released from the vehicle’s lower anchors with just a pull of the strap. It also features lower anchor attachment guides. These attach to the vehicle’s lower anchors before installation to help access the lower anchors. The last feature is the buckle pocket. The buckles can be tucked in these pockets to keep the harness out-of-the-way for easier loading. The new Evenflo Titan 65 SureSafe is currently only available at your local Wal-Mart store or Walmart.com.

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All CSFTL website contributors are Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians. However, our reviews and educational materials are OUR opinions and are not that of Safe Kids, NHTSA, or anyone other than us. We are not liable for anything anyone says or does as a result of reading our opinions on this site.

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